Watch the trailer for James Van Der Beek’s final movie role in tense thriller The Gates

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Lionsgate has unveiled the trailer for The Gates, a new thriller directed and written by John Burr. The film stars Mason Gooding (known from Scream) and the late James Van Der Beek in his final performance. The Gates uses horror elements to explore racism in seemingly perfect American neighborhoods. The story centers on Derek (Gooding), Kevin (Algee Smith), and Tyon (Keith Powers), three friends who witness a murder in a wealthy, gated community and are wrongly accused of the crime.

The movie begins with a group of people trying to bypass a traffic jam by taking a shortcut through a private, gated community. Once inside, they accidentally witness a shocking crime: the wealthy resident, Jacob (played by Van Der Beek), murdering a woman.

When the victims attempted to get the predominantly white community to help bring the perpetrator, Jacob, to justice, they were met with resistance because he was the local pastor.

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Derek, Kevin, and Tyon are in serious trouble. Jacob is relentlessly pursuing them to hide his own crimes, and the locals, believing they committed a murder, are quick to pull the trigger. It’s shaping up to be a very dangerous and difficult night for the three friends.

The cast also includes Brad Leland as Christopher, Kylr Coffman as Officer Bobby, Natacha Ellie as Kendra, and Shelby Simmons as Tiffany.

Following the recent death of Van Der Beek, The Gates director and writer, Burr, shared his appreciation for the actor’s work in the film and remembered him as a kind person to work with. Burr also expressed his sympathy to Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and their six children.

Burr began by expressing his deepest condolences and love to James’ family – his wife, Kimberly, and their children, Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah. He also thanked them for allowing everyone to spend time with James, as reported by Collider.

Burr went on to say that James was a truly remarkable person. He immediately captivated people with his personality and drive. A man of strong beliefs, James lived life with incredible passion and commitment, pouring that energy into his work, his family, and the life he created for himself in the Texas countryside after achieving early success in his career.

Working with him on this film was a true gift. He brought a wealth of experience and a unique viewpoint to his role, and quickly formed strong bonds with both the cast and crew. He always made time to share stories about his wife and children, reminisce about funny moments in his career, and genuinely ask about others’ lives. His positive energy was infectious. We were all shocked and saddened to learn of his diagnosis, as he had kept his illness private.

The director also shared that even though he’s gone, James’ spirit still brings everyone together and encourages them to embrace life fully. They are incredibly thankful for that. Speaking for the whole team, they expressed both their deep sadness over James’ death and their happiness at having known him.

Actor Van Der Beek passed away last week after a battle with bowel cancer. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2023 and revealed his condition to the public in 2024.

James David Van Der Beek died peacefully this morning, his wife Kimberly announced on Instagram.

He faced his final days with bravery, strong beliefs, and dignity. We will share more about his hopes, his kindness towards others, and how much he valued every moment later on. Until then, we kindly request privacy as we mourn the loss of our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.

The Gates releases in US cinemas on 13 March. A UK release date hasn’t been announced yet.

For more information or support related to cancer and its treatment, please visit Macmillan Cancer Support or Stand Up to Cancer by clicking these links.

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2026-02-18 23:50